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Newport420
06-26-2007, 12:28 PM
WOW. Thats a great one word "review" of Band of Brothers. I had been wanting to watch this HBO miniseries for quite some time and a couple weeks ago I found it on sale for 53 bucks at Best Buy. I just finished the series last night watching the last four 1 hour episodes in one sitting. Amazing is another great one word review.

For anyone who enjoyed Saving Private Ryan but wanted more.... this is it. In fact dare I say it spanks SPR in so many ways is not funny. The whole thing is ten 1 hour episodes and it takes you from basic training all the way through the end of the war and just a bit beyond. You get the whole story of Easy Company and the 101st Airborne Division. Each episode starts out with a brief few minutes of commentary from actual living members and then a solid hour of some of the best drama and action you have laid eyes on. There were so many nail biting, tear jerking moments that its impossible to list them all. The series was coporduced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg and stares a huge cast of people who all put in kick ass performances. Even Mark Wahlberg made me completely forget who he was and instead there was Seargent Lipton, the funky bunch was no where to be found. Each episode has a different director and thus has a distinct feel to it. But the series does an excellent job of staying consistent, developing all characters very well and puts you in just about every situation war could deliver. Its not just fighting and guns though there is always a healthy dose.

Bottomline is I can't say enough good things about this and hope that if any of you have been on the edge or just didn't know you'll go out and at least try an episode or two. The production value is top notch and they don't skimp on anything. The parachute drop over Normandy on D-Day for instance was incredible. To see just a ton of paratroopers, chutes deployed floating softly to the ground as their planes scream over head and a ton of anti aircraft fire slices and lights teh skies is just jaw dropping.

9.5 out of 10. Had to dock it a 0.5 as I just wanted more and think this could have been longer but considering what they did I'd say its as close to perfection as anyone could ask for.

Here is what Wikipedia has on the awards and a tid bit I truly relished.... the development of a sequel called The Pacific. Its not due till 2009 but I will most definitely keep it on my radar.

The series was nominated for nineteen Emmy Awards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmy_Award), and won six, including "Outstanding Mini-Series," "Outstanding Casting for a Mini-Series, Movie, or a Special," and "Outstanding Directing for a Mini-Series, Movie, or a Dramatic Special." It also won a Golden Globe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe) for "Best Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television," an American Film Institute (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Film_Institute) award, and was selected for a Peabody Award (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peabody_Award) for "...relying on both history and memory to create a new tribute to those who fought to preserve liberty." It also won a 2003 Writers Guild Award (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writers_Guild_of_America_Awards_2003) (Television, Adapted Long Form) for episode six (Bastogne). It is also the highest-rated miniseries in IMDB.com.

mr_chun
06-26-2007, 02:28 PM
I couldn't agree more. We got it for my dad a little while ago, and I've watched the whole thing twice through, with a few repeat episodes here and there. It's an incredible, moving series. It's really immersive, and puts you right there to see what it was like. And we're not just talking about the battles- you get to see everything. The fighting, the downtime, to discussions between officials, the travelling, the aftermath. The latter is one part that I found to be interesting, and it's something no one thinks about- how crazy everything was post-war when we still had kids over there in Europe.And you can't beat the veteran commentraies between episodes. Amazing series, highly recommended.

Newport420
06-26-2007, 02:45 PM
I agree with you Mr. Chun. This series covers it all. I also found the closing of the war to be surprising as I am not a huge history buff. The idea that it just sorta folded at the end is interesting. The idea that the soldiers truly had respect for their enemies and learned to appreciate them in certain ways is a testament to that period as I don't believe this is the same today IMO. Certainly not on both sides as it is portrayed in BoB.

I also enjoyed how they covered all positions if you will from officer to private from soldier to medic. There is a tension and level of humanity that other movies fail to convey IMO. I have immense respect for these guys and soldiers in general now more than ever.

mr_chun
06-26-2007, 04:45 PM
Yep. That about sums it up. :nod:

Go check it out people!

DarthArcturus
06-26-2007, 05:35 PM
I borrowed the set from a friend a few years ago and its def one of the best pieces of television I have ever seen. Good thread :nod: